Coleus plant named ‘MD CURMAG06 ’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Coleus  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by deeply lobed, undulating leaves, neon green and magenta foliage, a compact growth habit and short internodes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Solenostemon scutellarioides.

Variety denomination: ‘MD CURMAG06’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘MD CURLL06’ was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation of the parent Coleus plant variety ‘Bienvenue’ (not patented). The new cultivar was discovered in May 1998 as a single plant in a cultivated area of Glienicke, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘MD CURLL06’ by terminal cuttings was first performed in 1998 in Oxnard, Calif. and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MD CURMAG06’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MD CURMAG06.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MD CURMAG06’ as a new and distinct Coleus cultivar:

-   -   1. Deeply lobed, undulating leaves;     -   2. Neon green and magenta foliage;     -   3. Compact growth habit; and     -   4. Short internodes.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MD CURMAG06’ are similar to plants of the parent variety, ‘Bienvenue’ in most horticultural characteristics; however plants of the new cultivar ‘MD CURMAG06’ are much shorter than the parent variety. Also, the leaves of the parent are longer than the new variety. Finally, the foliage of the parent variety was red brown, with yellow-green margins and irregular brown patches on the middle rib while the foliage of ‘MD CURMAG06’ is a darker red-purple with a darker green margin.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Red Petticoats’ (not patented in the United States), ‘MD CURMAG06’ has much more deeply lobed and undulating foliage. Additionally, the new variety ‘MD CURMAG06’ has magenta foliage with a dark red-purple center compared to the red foliage of ‘Red Petticoats’ with a hot pink center.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘MD CURMAG06’ grown in a four-inch pot. One cutting was used in the pot, planted mid December and grown in a greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were about 25° C., night temperatures were about 12° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 6,000 footcandles. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe 11 week old ‘MD CURMAG06’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of December through February. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical coleus plants.

-   Botanical classification: Coleus cultivar ‘MD CURMAG06.’ -   Commercial classification: Coleus.

PROPAGATION

-   Type cutting: Terminal cuttings. -   Time to initiate roots: 4 days with 18° C. -   Time to develop roots: 6 to 8 days with 16° C. to 18° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous, white in color. -   Rooting habit: Freely branching.

PLANT

-   Form: Annual potted or garden plant. -   Growth habit: Low and outwardly spreading plant habit. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Plant height: About 9 cm. -   Plant diameter: About 11 cm. -   Branching habit: Freely branching with about two lateral branches     per plant. -   Length of lateral branches: About 3 cm. -   Diameter: About 0.4 cm. -   Internode length: About 1 cm. -   Strength: Strong. -   Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly spreading. -   Shape, in cross-section: Squarish. -   Texture: Lightly pubescent. -   Color: Near Yellow-Green 146C.

FOLIAGE

-   Arrangement: Opposite; simple. -   Length: About 3.5 cm. -   Width: About 3.5 cm. -   Shape: Ovate. -   Apex: Broadly acute. -   Base: Truncate. -   Margin: Crenate. -   Texture:     -   -   Upper surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Lower surface.—Lightly pubescent. -   Venation pattern: Pinnate; netted. -   Color:     -   -   Developing foliage on the upper surface.—Towards the             margins: Near Yellow-Green 144B. Towards the center: Near             Greyed-Purple 184A. Center: Near Greyed-Purple 185A. Towards             the base: Near Greyed-Purple 184A. Venation: Near Red-Purple             59A.         -   Developing foliage on the lower surface.—Towards the             margins: Near Yellow-Green 144B. Towards the center: Near             Greyed-Red 182C. Center: Near Greyed-Red 182C. Towards the             base: Near Greyed-Red 182C. Venation: Near Greyed-Red 182C.         -   Fully expanded foliage on the upper surface.—Towards the             margins: Near Green 143C. Towards the center: Near             Greyed-Purple 185B. Center: Near Greyed-Purple 185A. Towards             the base: Near Greyed-Purple 185B. Venation: Near Red-Purple             59A.         -   Fully expanded foliage on the lower surface.—Towards the             margins: Near Yellow-Green 144B. Towards the center: Near             Greyed-Purple 185C. Center: Near Greyed-Purple 185C. Towards             the base: Near Greyed-Purple 185C. Venation: Near Greyed-Red             179D. -   Petiole length: About 1 cm. -   Petiole diameter: About 0.2 cm. -   Petiole color:     -   -   Towards the apex.—Near Greyed-Red 181A.         -   Towards the base.—Near Greyed-Yellow 160D. -   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Plants of the new Coleus have been     observed to have no drought tolerance and do not produce at a     temperature lower than 8° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant named ‘MD CURMAG06’ as herein illustrated and described. 